Man, 32, Rearrested On Drug-related Counts

October 05, 1991

MIDDLETOWN — A man suspected of being a cocaine dealer, set free last week because of an administrative error by police, has been re-arrested on the same charges, police said Friday.

Robert Spruill Jr., 32, of 12 Maple Place, was charged Thursday with possession of cocaine, possession of cocaine with intent to sell, possession of drug paraphernalia, interference and escape from custody, police said.

Spruill had been arrested Sept. 20 and charged with the same offenses, but the charges were dropped three days later after a judge learned police had failed to ensure that Spruill was arraigned in court within 48 hours of his arrest.

The error meant police did not comply with a recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court requiring that a judge or magistrate review within 48 hours the cases of all suspects arrested without a warrant and held in custody. If the judge or magistrate signs paperwork declaring probable cause for the arrest, the suspect may be held until a court appearance the next day.

Police originally had arrested Spruill after an officer saw him on Washington Street with hypodermic needles and what appeared to be cocaine in his pocket, police said. He broke free from two officers, but was stopped by two off-duty police officers from Old Lyme, police said.

In a sharply worded memo to department supervisors, Joseph E. Bibisi, deputy police chief, vowed to punish those responsible if a similar mistake occurs.